Manual boat propelling device and mount therefor



D. LAYcox 3,007,434

MANUAL BOAT PROPELLING DEVICE AND MOUNT THEREFOR Nov. 7, 1961 Filed July 26. 1960 37 INVENOR.

.D Q? (a) c 9 x United States Patent 3,007,434 MANUAL BOAT PROPELLING DEVICE AND MOUNT THEREFOR Dewey Laycox, 324 Morton Ave., Dayton, Ohio Filed July 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,403 10 Claims. (Cl. 115-31) This invention relates to a boat propelling device, and it is particularly concerned with a manually operated boat propelling device that is substantially universal with respect to the mannerin which it can be attached to a boat.

Manual boat propelling devices are known and heretofore have taken the form of oscillating paddle or manually operated screws or the like. Such devices have generally been relativelyv expensive and bulky and involve problems in connection with the mounting thereof on a boat. Furthermore, such devices heretofore have not been adjustable to a suificient degreev to take into account all circumstances under which they might be used.

vWith the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a boat propelling device that is manually operated which avoids the draw backs referred to above.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a manually operated boat propelling device which can readilybe removed from the boat substantially in its entirety so that if the boat is completely left for a period of time, the propelling device can be removed.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a boat propelling device which has multiple adjustments to permit its adaptation for various mounting positions and various conditions of use.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a manually operated boat propelling device which is relatively light in weight and also relatively inexpensive and which can be readily applied to any convenient position in a small boat, such as a row boat.

The foregoing objects and the advantages of this invention, aswell as still other objects and advantages thereof will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which: p

'FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating thedevice as it may be attached to a boat in different positions thereon, l

' FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the devicedrawn at enlarged scale," v FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary indicated by line 3-3 on FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional View indicated byline 4-4 on FIGURE 2, FIGURE 5 is a plan sectional 5-5 on FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lower end of the device with a-rudder. element mounted thereon.

Referring to the drawings somewhat in more detail, in FIGURE lthere. is, aboat indicated at 10 and attached to the side thereof is a propelling device 11, according to this invention. Indicated in dot-dashoutline at the front of the boat by reference numeral 12 and at the rear of the boat by reference numeral 14 are two other positions of the device. I j a The device consists ofa tubular member pivoted ins tcrmediate its endsto a bracket member that can be adjustably connectedto the boat. Manual means are provided for swinging the elongated tubular member and paddle-means pivoted to the'loive'r end of the tubular member are operable" for developing propelling force when the tubular'member is swinging to and fro about its pivotal support. v

vertical sectional view view indicated by line The specific nature f of the construction of the device will be seen in FIGURES 2 through 6. For attaching the device to a boat there'is a U-shaped support bracket 15 having means in the form of bolt holes or threaded holes 16 for bolting the bracket to any convenient place on a small boat adjacent to the edge thereof. 'The bracket is important because it .can be mounted in a plurality of different locations thereby permitting the propelling de vice to be placed at either end of the boat or along the side thereof.

On the upper leg of bracket 15 there is secured a toothed member 17 having peripheral teeth or notches 18. These teeth or notches are adapted for cooperating with teeth on the adjacent end of an arm 19 resting on member 17. A center screw 20 carried by member 17 extends through an aperture inthe end of arm 19 and receives a clamp nut 21. On account of the interengaging teeth and notches of the arm 19 and member 17, the arm 19 can be attached to bracket 15 in any of a plurality of angular positions thereby permitting bracket 15 to be turned as necessary for connection with the boat, while arm 19 is adjustable on the arm in a horizontal plane.

Arm 19 extends outwardly and has the spacedsupport elements 22 thereon which, as will be seen in FIGURE 4 receive the screws 23.- These screws 23 are relatively large in diameter and have heads 24 by means of which they can be rotated. The screws at their inner ends have recessed end portions 25 so-that there can be embraced between the inner ends of the screws, a ball 26. This ball is supported by thescrews but can be rotated and oscillated therein.

Ball 26 is attached to a relatively short tube 27 within which is slidable a long tube'28. As 'will be seen in FIGURE 3 shorter tube 27 has a necked in lower portion at 29 which forms a relatively close sliding fit with tube 28. A' similarly reduced section is provided at 30 toward the upper end of tube 27 so that tube 28 is accurately guidedtherein without play.

A clamp nut 31 is threaded to the upper end of-tube 27 and has therein a rubber-like grommet 32 that can be pressed in clamping relation with tube 28. Tube 28 can thus be locked to tube 27 or, by loosening nut 31', tube 28 can be adjusted vertically within tube 27.

Toward its lower end tube 28 has a necked in region 33 thatforms a relatively close sliding fit. about asmaller tube 34. Tube 34 is adapted for slidable adjustment in tube 28 by loosening a clamp nut 35 on the lower end of tube 28 which corresponds to clamp nut 31 on tube27. A rubber-like grommet is provided also in nut 35.

1 Tube 34'inside tube 28 and toward the upper end of tube 34 carries a sleeve member 36, which is-expanded somewhat so that the upper end of the tube is closely ided within tube'28. 1 1

At its extreme lower end tube 34 is provided a block member 37 threaded to the tube, or otherwise suitably fixedly connected) therewith.- "Immediately above block 37 tube 34 has pivotedthereto a pair of paddles or notches 40 the block extends upwardly to form abutment means 41 which stop the wings or vanes a's-they swing in one direction and in which direction they are extended outwardly from tube 34. When the' vanes swing forwardly toward theposition in which they are illustrated by the dot-dash lines. in FIGURE '5 they may'behalted Patented Nov. 7,1961

. 3 i by studs or abutment means 42 so that the vanes are angled outwardly at least slightly from each other where by they are readily swingable outwardly to their full line position in FIGURE 5 when the device is manipulated.

FIGURE 2 will also show that the vanes, when swinging outwardly, abut at .43 along their length and this adds considerable strength to the assembly. l

The vanes are loosely held in position on tube 34 by snap ring means'34 located on tube 35 immediately above the upperend of the vanes.

At the extreme upper end of tube 28 there is a'b'arlike hand graspable element 45 which can be availed of for rocking the tubular assembly and the vanes thereon back and forth as indicated by the arrows 46. This will cause the vanes to move back and forth in the water so that they will collapse toward each other as the lower end of the tube assembly moves forwardly in' the water and move into extended position as the lower end 'of the tube assemblymoves backwardly in the water. This will produce the desired propelling effect. On account of the novel ball support of the unit, element. 45 can rotate the tubing assembly on its axis whereby the propelling of the boat can be combined with a steering action. Further, the tube assembly can be rotated through 360 on its axis so that propelling in any direction can be had or any desired steering effect can be bad. This makes the device assembly useful and adaptable to all circumstances. The aforementioned adjustability of the tubing in the ball is also of benefit in that the device can be used in extremely shallow water by raising it upwardly, or it can be used in deep waters by lowering it downwardly. The leverage can be adjusted to suit individual preference.

The easy detachability ofv the device from the boat is of advantage and once the device is detached it is compact and light, and thereby easy to transport.

I have found it of advantage to form the outer tips of the vanes on a curve as indicated at 47 in FIGURE 2 which imparts great stilfnessto the vanes and permits large propelling force to be developed without the vanes bending. The vanes could otherwise be strengthened if desired by forming raised portions or ribs thereacross according to practices well known in the art of working sheet metal.

The connection of ball 26 to tube 27 may be by a fusion process, such as soldering or brazing, or there may be provided a snap ring means 48 that will hold the tube inthe ball; i

There may be occasions when it is desired to incorporate rudder means in the device and this can be done by placing a flat member 49 along the back of tube 34 with its lower edge engaged in a slot 50in member 37 located in the back midway between abutment means 41'.

The upper end of member 49 can then be provided with a spring clamp means 51 to snap about tube 34. This provides a rudder .efiect and the boat can readily be steered when drifting with the current. Another spring clamp can be provided on arm 19 at 52 and this can be availed of for snapping about the upper end of tube 28 when it is-desired' to transport the device or when it is desired to carry the propelling device in resting position on the boat.

It will be evident from the foregoing that my propelling device is fully flexible as-to the position ,in which it is mounted on a boat and as to the direction in which it is mounted on a boat and as to the direction in which it propels the boat. Thebar-like handle is readily grasped and indicates, by its alignment with the paddle means, the directionv to swing the elongated member to obtain the maximum propelling-force. V

The paddle means, or vane means, are arranged as a pair in the modification illustrated but a single pivoted effective for displacing water and a second position wherein it is ineffective for displacing water.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the propelling device of the present invention is relatively simple in construction and light in weight but that, at the same time, it is widely adaptable to substantially any circumstance under which such a device can be used, and, full adjustability of the mechanism is also provided for to meet varying situations.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to diiferent usages and conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for fixed connection with a boat, an arm on the bracket substantially horizontally over the edge of the boat, said arm being adjustably connected with said bracket for adjustment thereon in a horizontal plane, a straight elongated member swivelly and rotatably mounted on the outer end of the arm, and vane means swingably mounted on the lower end of the elongated member movable thereon from a first water-displacing effective position in one direction of swinging movement of said elongated member to a second non-water-displacing inelfective position in the opposite direction of swinging movement of said elongated member.

2. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm on the bracket extending over the edge of the boat, an elongated member swivelly and rotatably mounted on the outer end of the arm, -a pair of vanes at the lower end of said elongated paddle means could be employed with a similar arrangement to what is shownbeing provided for movement of the paddle means between afirst position wherein it is member, one on each side thereof, said vanes being pivoted to said elongated member for movement toward and away from each other, a block member on the lower end of said elongated member, said block member having notches receiving the lower edges of said vanes and said notches having abutment means for the vanes at opposite ends for stopping said vanes in a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween.

3. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm on the bracket extending over the edge of the boat, an elongated member swivelly and rotatably mounted on the outer end of the arm, a pair of vanes at the lower end of said elongated member, one on each side thereof, said vanes being pivoted to said elongated member for movement toward and away from each other, a block member on the lower end of said elongated member, said block member having notches receiving the lower edges of said vanes and said notches having abutment means for the vanes at opposite ends for stopping said vanes in a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween, said block having a slot between the abutment means that stop the vanes in said second position, a rudder blade adapted to engage said slot at its lower edge, and means to attach the upper edge of the rudder blade to said elongated member.

4. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm detachably adjustably connectedwith said bracket adapted to extend over the side of the boat, an elongated member at the end of the arm, a ball element on the elongated member between the ends thereof, support fingers on the arm on opposite sides of the ball, hollow point screws in said fingers engaging opposite sides of the ball to swivelly and rotatably support the elongated member on said arm, a hand graspable element on the upper end of said elongated member, and vanes pivoted to the lower end of the elongated member swingable thereon between a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween.

5. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm detachably adjustably connected with said bracket adapted to extend over the side of the boat, an elongated member at the end of the arm, a ball element on the elongated member between the ends thereof, support fingers on the arm on opposite sides of the ball, hollow point screws in said fingers engaging opposite sides of the ball to swivelly and rotatably support the elongated member on said arm, a hand graspable element on the upper end of said elongated member, and vanes pivoted to the lower end of the elongated member swingable thereon between a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween, said vanes in said second position having their vertical adjacent edges in abutting relation.

6. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm detach-ably adjustably connected with said bracket adapted to extend over the side of the boat, said arm having spaced support fingers on its outer end, a ball element between said finger, hollow point screws in said fingers engaging the ball for swivelling and rotary movement on the arm, a first tube extending through and attached to the ball; a longer second tube extending slidably through said first tube, means for releasably clamping said first and second tubes together, a third tube extending into the bottom end of said second tube, means for releasably clamping said second and third tubes together, a handle on the upper end of the second tube, and vanes on the lower end of the third tube swingable thereon between a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween.

7. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm detachably adjustably connected with said bracket adapted to extend over the side of the boat, said arm having spaced support fingers on its outer end, a ball element between said finger, hollow point screws in said fingers engaging the ball for swivelling and rotary movement on the arm, a first tube extending through and attached to the ball; a longer second tube extending slidably through said first tube, means for releasably clamping said first and second tubes together, a third tube extending into the bottom end of said second tube, means for releasably clamping said second and third tubes together, a handle on the upper end of the second tube, and vanes on the lower end of the third tube swingable thereon between a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween, said arm and bracket having interfitting tooth and notch means to provide for adjustment of the arm on the bracket.

8. A boat propelling device comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a boat, an arm detachably adjustably connected with said bracket adapted to extend over the side of the boat, said arm having spaced support fingers on its outer end, a ball element between said fingers, hollow point screws in said fingers engaging the ball for swivelling and rotary movement on the arm, a first tube extending through and attached to the ball; a longer second tube extending slidably through said first tube, means for releasably clamping said first and second tubes together, a third tube extending into the bottom end of said second tube, means for releasably clamping said second and third tubes together, a handle on the upper end of the second tube, and vanes on the lower end of the third tube swingable thereon between a first position wherein they include an acute angle therebetween and a second position wherein they include an obtuse angle therebetween, said first tube having necked-in portions at its opposite ends closely fitting said second tube, said second tube having a necked-in portion at its lower end closely fitting said third tube, and said third tube having an enlarged region at its upper end closely fitting said second tube.

9. In a boat propelling device: an arm, a ball element swivelly and rotatably supported on one end of the arm, an elongated member extending through the ball, paddle means on the lower end of the elongated member moveable into ineffective position in one direction of swinging movement of the elongated member on the arm, an actuating handle on the upper end of the elongated member for manually swinging and rotation thereof, said elongated member being movable into a position of substantial parallelism with said arm, and means to latch the elongated member to the arm in said last mentioned position.

10. In a boat propelling device: an arm, a ball element swivelly and rotatably supported on one end of the arm, a straight elongated member extending through and supported by the ball, paddle means on the lower end of the elongated member movable into ineffective position in one direction of the swinging movement of the elongated member on the arm, a bar-like actuating handle on the upper end of the elongated member for manual swinging and rotation thereof, said elongated member being adjustable in the direction of its length in said ball element, said elongated member also being adjustable in length, and said elongated member also being rotatable through a full 360 on its axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

